Letter to the Editor: Bring businesses back to Berkeley Heights

As a resident of Berkeley Heights for nine years now, I was very happy to have our town listed as New Jersey Magazine's and Money Magazine's top places to live. However, I have to ask, "Is what we offer enough to make it worthy of such high praise?"

We are becoming a town of nail salons, banks and pharmacies. Our children have maybe two places to go (Yoggaccino and Rita's) when they want to spend some time outside the home. On a recent visit to Ridgefield, Conn., I noticed how many people were walking about, visiting the various places that not only enhanced the community, but made the town so much more attractive. There is a candy shop featuring every sugary delight we as adults used to enjoy as kids. There is a book store, filled with almost every paperback and hardcover imaginable. There is a toy shop stacked to the ceiling with all kinds of toys (not just educational but popular games, crafts and collectibles). All of these businesses are thriving. Why? Not because Ridgefield is so much bigger (there are only 10,000 more residents than Berkeley Heights, and neighboring towns are further than New Providence and Warren) but because the town embraces those businesses and patronizes them.

I have seen our empty storefronts for years now, and when we do get new businesses I am saddened to discover we have two or three similar companies in the town already. How can we continue calling Berkeley Heights a "great place to live" when we ourselves have to drive out of town to get simple supplies such as birthday gifts, crafts and even books?

I hope our town council gives this problem the much-needed attention it deserves, and I hope other residents will join me when I say, “Please bring businesses to our town that will enhance and better our community.”